L. Saucon Gets Truck With Bucket

January 20, 1992|by KEN KUNSMAN, The Morning Call

Lower Saucon Township workers will cut grass this summer on a new John Deere tractor and fix light bulbs from a new truck outfitted with an aerial bucket, thanks to purchases approved by township council last week.

Plasterer Equipment Co. Inc. of 400 Stoke Park Road, Hanover Township, was the lone bidder, and sold Lower Saucon a $37,200 "general purpose tractor" with a specialized "boom mower" not widely available, according to Public Works Director Charles Senich, and Plasterer general manager Jake Kuchera.

"To spend that kind of money on a new tractor with no other bids bothers me," said Councilwoman Geraldine Szakmeister.

Acting chairman Neil Ortwein was also concerned and asked Senich if the specifications for the tractor were "too specific." Ortwein noted other tractor retailers in the area said "if you write the specifications to fit John Deere, that's what you will get."

Senich said "the specifications were general and not directed toward any company," but Kuchera said the boom mower in the bid narrowed the field significantly.

"Not many dealers or supplers are capable of handling that type of equipment," Kuchera said. "Fortunately we are here in the area."

Plasterer gave the township $2,500 for its International tractor, which the new piece replaces.

Senich was also asked to explain why his office overspent its equipment budget by $4,234 for a new truck and aerial bucket. Council also asked why the equipment, which cost more than $14,000, was bought without bidding.

Township Manager James McCann said the truck was bought for under $10,000 (the limit for purchases without bidding), and the bucket cost $4,000. He said the pieces could be considered separate because, "if the truck were to blow up tomorrow, we could still use the bucket."

The township was allocated $165,000 from the state liquid fuels tax collections, of which 20 percent can be used for equipment, Senich said. McCann said previously outside agencies were paid to bring a bucket truck into the township to replace burnt out traffic lights, and Senich said "every time that bucket goes up we save ourselves $200."

Councilwoman Marcincin said workers would need to change a lot of light bulbs to justify a $14,000 purchase, but Senich assured council the truck could also be used for trimming trees.

In other business, council will consider an ordinance to number homes in the township at its Feb. 19 meeting. Council said it would take several weeks to compile an address list, which engineer James Birdsall said would need to be approved by the United States Postal Service.

Council also received draft copies of the township's new Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, which directs developers and controls the process by which plans are approved.